One of the local theatres has put on "the Sound of Music" (I was too late too audition! ) and Maria is an african-american woman, I don' think this should make a difference for this woman is EXTREMLY talented, the reviews are good but what are your thoughts on it? A Julie Andrews actress or an african american one?

If she can sing the role, act the role, and looks the right age for the role, I don't see why not. In fact, I think it's great that the director decided to take a less traditional approach to casting Maria.

If this were a show where race was a major theme or plot point in the story, that would be a different story. But in SOM? Why not?

It is an interesting idea and could work well. The nazi party hated blacks so this could be an additional reason for their persecution of the Von Trapp family.
Besides, if the girl had the best acting and singing chops she should get the role.

_________________Set_Buildin_Dad

Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:58 pm

Ford Prefect

Fresh Face

Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:40 amPosts: 6

Austria, 1939. A small convent up in the Alps has a very young postulant who is encouraged to go out and work as a nanny. Most alpine (country) people had never even SEEN a black person. This was a remote area in that time.

At the risk of being overly sensitive to the time, place and culture that is the setting for this musical (and seeing as how it's based on a true story), the likelihood that Maria would have been anything but Teutonic is miniscule, and so having a black woman playing the part requires a huge suspension of disbelief.

If she's good enough it shouldn't matter. But she'd have to be damn good.